Clutch.



V. R. BRUCE L R G DICKENS CLUTCH APPLlcA'rldN rlLED rsa. 9 Isla1,275,213.` lmmfedmlg 13,1918

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UNITED sauras PATENT ormoni" .vIvIAN e. BRUCE Np RICHARD s. Dickens, forELMIRA, NEW Yorin, essIcNons To.

HILLIARD CLUTCH AND MACHINERY COMIIEANY,A F ELMIRA., NEW YQBK, ASOBPO-izArIoN or New YORK.

cLiITcH.

Appucauon fuea February 9, 191s. serial No. 215,216;

ToaZZ/wlwut t may concern.'

Be it known `that we, Vivian R. BRUCE and RICHARD G, DioKENs,-fcitizensofthe f United States, and residents of Elmira,

countyof Glieniung, and. State of New York, Vhave invented new and'useful Iniproveinent in Clutches, of which the followinis aspecification. c his invention relates to friction clutches l and moreparticularly to clutches adapted :For use on iotofi" vehicles. f

Que ,0f the Qbiects Vcitheinvestion ,iS t0 ,provide an improved form ofactuating mechanism that Will be readily adjustable 4and will be uniformin its action, although of extremely simple construction.

' Other objects andthe features of novelty will be apparent from thefollowing description` taken in connection with the accompanyingdrajyings, of ywhich v Figure 1 is adlongitudinal section of a clutchen'ibodying the invention and Fig, 2 is transverse section on Athe line2--2of Figrl..

Fig. 3 a detail section onl the line 3J-3 of Fig; 1. v 4 Referring tothe drawings, 10 indicates a i casing in 'the form of a {ily-'Wheelwhich may be secured to, the crank shaft of an engine h v suitable boltswhich are indica-ted at 11. The open side of the casing 10 is closed bymeans of a plate 12 Whiclris secured to the civisingby bolts 13;A Ashaft 14 has one end supported in a bearing 15, in the-casing 10',andcarries a spider '16 on which the fric- 4tion disks 17 are mounted,the frictio-nwlisks and spider 1(3 being provided with intermeshingteeth` 1S, f

TA. pluralityv of short segments 19 having outwardly.projectingcylindrical lugs 20,

are arranged on interior of the casing 1U. the lugs 20 promoting throughsuitable `o}')euing. ra rin the Walls of the4 casing,y as' clearly shownin Figs. 1 and '3.

serve to 'Form a driving connection be- The lugs ti'veen'thc segmentsv19 and the casing-and also constitutes cery simpleand easily assembledL foiisti'ucti n. [The segments 19 are I n'ovided with tie-'ith 2lwith-` which teeth `22 nii-the friction disk 23niesli, this fric tiondisk heilig thereby driven by the ca i ing 10. A pressure'plafc 24 isalso provided with teeth' similar to the teeth 22, Which mesh 'with'the'teet1i`- 21 of the segments 19.

A Iplurality of'spring-s 25 are arranged lie- 55 plate 24a-andthe vyebof tween the pressure the casing 10 and act to ress the pressure plateaway from the friction disks;

The plate l12 has securedon its 'inner side' screw-threaded sleeves 26,which carryhtfhe 6 0 adjustable set screws 27. The set screws 27 aresecured in any position to which they may be adjusted, bymeans of thelock nuts 28. 4In the construction illustrated, there will be three4of'theset screws 27 equall $5 spaced and having in cooperation therewittlieactuating levers-29. The levers 29 are radially arrange and have camshaped outer ends 30 Wliichibear upon the set screws 27, anintermediate' portion of each of the 7 levers, bearing on a roller 31,on the pressure plate 24. The inner ends of the levers 29 `are pivotallyconnected With a ring 32, which has a ball and socket, or universalconi'iection with a thrust bearinglon v'lli the axiallyadju'stahlesleeve 35. A'spring 36 is arranged between tlieplate 12 and the ring32and normally serves to actuate the levers 29 as to compress the frictiondisks together and form a driving connection beso tween the casing 10and the shaft 14. The sleeve carries a` collar 37 on Which'a thrust'bearing 38 is arranged, this thrust bearing being connected with any ofthe usual forms of actuating mechanism or hand` levers.. i

As above stated,the spring 36 normally comlnesses the friction disks`together but when it is desired to relieve the pressure on` t thefriction disks the sleeve 35V is moved 90 towardv the right in Fig. 1and the springs 25 then act-to move the pressure plate 24. away from thefriction disks.- i AnyV wear in the friction disks may be readilycompensated for by adjustment of I8 asicreivs 27. It is, therefore,unnecessary to ,1 00

exercise extrc'i'ne care in the adjustmentlof the set screws 27v andfor, this reason the v"maintenance of the clutch in perfect run-'ningco'ndition is a simple-matter.

While We have illustrated and described YWhatwe now consider to be thepreferred form offourinventiom'it will be understood that variousmodifications niay be made l Withtdebertng frm the spirit of theinvention as set forth inthe appended claims. VAfILI'ev'ng describedthefim'fenton 'what is tonev of K said members@ 1.111 afriction einen,me mmbinaeonf of eozugially arranged drivin and driven members,afseriespf'rcton sks whereby yone-:efsaidmembers mayv drive the '0t her,

` 'a' .pressure platefessocletedV wlth .said disks, 10'

a., pllr'lty pf `adjus't'zalb'le elements eairried by tiell'y radially.Vrrenge Y eretmgwth sadepresrsure'plate and one of seid: adjustableelements; a ring te which said-disk vthe iineflei'idelbfi-seidy lever.;are eonnected andren vaxi lly shiftable member having. a

,. tu e' seid iig to release caxmlly arranged drivin enddriven Iembers,a serieso friction isks whereby one of sald-ymembers ma drive the other,a .pressure plete associate' lwith saidd s; a plurality of adjustableelements carried by one el said-mgmbers 'a plurality of substantially,

radallyrranged levers, each cqperatiufgl with said pressure` plate andone of sai adjustable elements; a ring to which the Y l inner ends o fvseid levers are conneeted, a glurallty of .substan levers, each copspring eoperating'with said ring te compress said disks'together, and an'axially shiftable member having ze, ball and socketi l "eonneetion withseid ring and whereby the" pressure of said spring may' be overcome.

In testimony whereof We a-Hix our signatures.

vIvIAN R. BRUCE.. .Y RrCHARD G. DICKENS.`

